Artist Joel Shields is Back at WeHo Sheriff’s Station with Colorful Rays of Yarn

Venice Beach artist, Joel Shields, is back at the West Hollywood Sheriff’s Station with his colorful rays of yarn art installation at San Vicente Boulevard near the corner of Santa Monica Boulevard. His latest rogue creation wraps yarn around two trees to create perfect lines of color suspended in air. The latest installation is currently still visible as of the publishing of this piece.

The trick to this form of guerrilla artwork is seeing how long it lasts. He says the most he’s had one standing has been for about three months in Venice Beach. “Some last weeks,” he said. “Others don’t last the night. Only measurements I ever note is distance between trees and the amount of time they take.”

The yarn art debuted by the Venice Boardwalk and at Abbot Kinney. The work first popped up at the West Hollywood Park during pride month in June, 2022. He used the colors of the rainbow for two creations on the park walkway next to the big dog park and the small dog park. He didn’t ask permission from the city, but the yarn survived the elements and the people before finally being taken down after about fours day later.

His had an installation in front of the West Hollywood Sheriff’s station in July of last year as well.

Someone from the WeHo Arts department reached to him via Instagram last year to encouraged him to do things legally and apply for an artist grant with the city of West Hollywood. A grant would not only give him permission to create in the city of West Hollywood, but it would also give him other resources to installs something at a grander scale.

Joel Shield has art all over the Venice Boardwalk near his home. He uses bright colors of the rainbow, Barbie dolls, flags, umbrellas, chairs and whatever the city elements throw his way. He brought colorfully panted wooden shows to West Hollywood last year for WeHo Pride.

Follow him on Instagram at @veniceamplified.